Footwear



Feb. 16, 1937. E. B. WARD 2,071,145

FOOTWEAR Filed Oct. 25, 1955 4 i I w 151% 1 VENTOR.

K BY M4 j/ 11 j; ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,071,146 v FOOTWEAR Eugene B. Ward, West Springfield, Mass. Application October 25, 1935, Serial No. 46,757

4Claimsf (01; 36-71) This invention relates to improvements in footwear and is directed more particularly to improvements in devices for use in connection with shoes and the like which are constructed and arranged to support a certain part or parts of the foot. r

The principal objects of the invention are the provision of a supporting device for a part or parts of the foot which, according to the novel features of the invention, is movable by movements of the foot and shoe to support said part or parts of the foot in all natural positions thereof. The device of the invention is particularly adapted to support that part of the foot commonly known as the metatarsal arch in somewhatthe same manner as the device shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 743,980, filed Sept. 14, 1934. I I I According to special features of the invention a support member is arranged and adapted to support the metatarsal arch of the foot when the shoe and foot are relatively fiat as well as when the shoe is bent or flexed by the foot as is the case when walking. By reason of its novel construction the device of the invention has a member which is movable up and down so that when in a shoe and the sole is bentor flexed the said member is caused to follow that part ofthe foot which it supports for the supporting function. In its broad aspects the device supports that part of the foot either when the sole and heel are flat on the floor or when one is raised relative to the other so as to bend or flex the bottom part of the shoe. In other'words, the support of the device of this invention is actuated for. its supporting function by the bending or flexing of the sole of the shoe as the wearer bends the foot.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a supporting device which automatically assumes a supporting position as the foot is flexed so as to bend the shoe. The device is adapted for use in connection with shoes of all types and sizes and its novel features consist in a general way of a supporting member or members arranged for relative movements brought about by the flexing or bending of the shoe as the wearer bends or flexes his foot.

It is a particular object of the'invention to provide a construction which brings about elevating movements of a supporting part beginning at a point. forwardly of the shank to raise and supportthe metatarsal arch of the foot adjacent a point back of the metatarsal head. The device is so arranged that it may be located in a shoe beneath ,thatpart of the foot known as the,

metatarsal arch and by reason of its novel construction relieves the strain where the usual type of footwear causes much discomfort. The device advantages of the invention will be more fully hereinafter referred to in connection withthe accompanying description of the invention in the form at present preferred, and it will be understood that various changes may be made in the form of the device of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe inven-- tion. In the drawing: 7

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a shoe having the device of the invention associated therewith, the shoe being represented by dot-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2 through the support member to illustrate that the sup-port member may be curved or arched for its supporting function;

Fig. 4 is a side. elevational view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightly modified form of the device of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the device of the invention with the parts in a certain relative position; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the same parts in another position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the invention will be more fully described.

A shoe is represented at S by dot-dash lines in Fig. 1 which has the usual heel 2 and sole 4 extending from the front part rearwardly and being formed adjacent the heel to support the foot be.- tween the heel and forward portion. The shoe S is shown as it appears when the sole and heel are on the floor or ground as instanding. It may be here pointed out that when one is walkingthe' heel 2 of the shoe is elevated when bending the foot which results in such bending or flexing of the shoe as is permitted by the relatively rigid shank common in shoe constructions. The novel device of this invention may be asso ciated with a shoe during its manufacture as between the inner and outer soles thereof, or if desired the invention may take the form of a device which is adaptedtobe inserted in a shoe after its manufacture adjacent the inner side of the outer sole, and in that case an inner member of some relatively soft and flexible material may be disposed thereover.

The device of the invention includes a pair of base plate members II] and I 2 which are adjacently disposed and hinged together on adjacent sides as at I4 for relative swinging movements on the pivotal connection I4. The plate member II! may be more or less V-shaped in cross section as shown and it is arranged so that it may be disposed adjacent the inside of the sole of the shoe as is the plate member I2.

Also hinged to the plate member ID as at I5 there is what may be called a supporting member I6 and on the plate member I2 there is provided actuating means, which may take the form of a projection I8 and which is disposed below the supporting member I6. This means I8 extends upwardly from the plate member I2 and is adapted to be engaged by the support member I6. As the parts Ill and I2 swing relative to one another from the positions shown diagrammatically in Fig, 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, the support memher It is elevated from member I2 or it swings upwardly relative to member I2 as members Ill With the device disposed in a shoe the members I0 and I2 are caused to swing relative to one another by the flexing or bending of the shoe so that the support I 6 is swung or moved up and down by this bending of the shoe. The support I6 is located so as to support the metatarsal arch of the foot and as the foot and shoe are flexed or bent, the supporting member is caused to follow the foot and support the particular part at all times.

The device may be secured to the shoe in various ways and its shape may be modified to provide means for attachment. Openings I9 are shown for illustrative purposes through which fastening means may extend into the sole. The means may be permanently secured to the device and shoe during the manufacture thereof or when the device is made as an accessory it may be slipped into a shoe and fastened in position.

An inner sole 8 is represented in Fig. 1 which may be of thin pliable material disposed to overlie the supporting device. Or when the device is made as an accessory there may be a layer of suitable material thereover to correspond to the inner sole.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, base plate members 20 and 22 similar to members I0 and I2 are hinged at 2d and a supporting member 26, like the member It, is hinged to member 20, as at 25. There is an actuating member 28, such as a projectiona s shown, associated with one of the plate members such as 22 on which the member 26 rests.

Thus when the sole is flexed, the parts 2!! and 22 are moved relative to one another so that the support 25 is elevated relative to the sole. The metatarsal arch region of the foot is in this way supported in all natural positions of the foot.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What -it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a shoe having a flexible sole of a device for supporting the metatarsal arch region of the foot comprising, a pair of adjacently disposed base plate members disposed adjacent the sole of the shoe adjacent the metatarsal arch-supporting part thereof and hingedly connected together for swinging movements relative to one another as the sole of. the shoe is flexed, a support member hingedly connected to one of said plate members, and an actuating member associated with the other of said plate members for acting on and swinging said support member, all adapted and arranged whereby said support member is swung upwardly and away from said sole by said actuating member as said plate members are swung relative to one another by flexing of the sole of the shoe.

, 2. The combination with ashoe having a flexible sole of a device for supporting the metatarsal arch region of the foot comprising, a pair of adjacently disposed base plate members disposed adjacent the sole of the shoe adjacent the metatarsal arch-supporting part thereof and hingedly connected together for swinging move-' ments relative to one another as the sole of the shoe is flexed, a support member hingedly connected to one of said plate members, and a projection associated with the other of said plate members for acting on and swinging said support member, all adapted and arranged whereby said support member is swung upwardly and away from said sole by said actuating member said plate members are swung relative to one another by flexing of the sole of the shoe.

3. The combination in a device for supporting the metatarsal arch of the foot of, a pair of ad- 'jacently disposed base plate members adapted to be disposed adjacent the sole of the shoe adjacent the metatarsal arch-supporting part thereof and hingedly connected together ror swinging movements relative to one another, a support hingedly connected to one of said plate members, and an actuating member associated with the other of said plate members for acting on and swinging said support member, all adapted and arranged whereby said support member is swung upwardly and away from the sole of the shoe by said actuating member when said plate members are disposed adjacent the sole of a shoeand are swung relative to one another by flexing of the sole of the shoe.

4. The combination in a device for supporting the metatarsal arch of the foot of, a pair of adjacently disposed base plate members adapted to be disposed adjacent the sole of the shoe adjacent the metatarsal arch-supporting part thereof and hingedly connected together for swinging movements relative to one another, a support hingedly connected to one of said plate members, and'a projection associated with the other of said plate members for acting on and swinging said support member, all adapted and arranged whereby said'support member is swung upwardly and away from the sole of the shoe by said actuating member when said plate members are disposed adjacent the sole of a shoe and are swung relative to one another by flexing of the sole'of the shoe.

EUGENE B. WARD. 

